BC Securities Commission launches new saveSMART InvestRight program

VANCOUVER, Oct. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The BC Securities Commission has developed a new financial literacy outreach program, saveSMART InvestRight, which teaches practical money management for the 18 to 80 set. The BCSC is launching saveSMART to mark November as Financial Literacy Month.

"saveSMART is a new 90 minute workshop developed by the BCSC for adult audiences around the province to complement the work we have been doing in BC high schools and with our InvestRight seminars for pre-retirees and seniors," said Patricia Bowles, Director Communications & Education.

Almost ten years ago, the BCSC introduced The City, its financial life skills resource for BC teachers, along with its supporting teacher training program. The City was developed for BC educators who teach Grade 10 students the Planning 10: Finances course which is mandatory in BC high schools.

The resource is used in all 60 of BC's school districts and has been delivered to more than 2,000 teachers since it was introduced in 2004. The BCSC's teacher training workshops will continue to be held throughout the education system with all of BC universities' Faculties of Education, with school boards and with individual high schools.

In 2007, the BCSC partnered with the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada to provide its teacher resource to all Canadians in English and French in the form of an interactive web-based learning tool. The City is now widely used in all provinces and territories.

"Teaching financial life skills and raising awareness about their importance is a priority for the BCSC," concluded Bowles.

The BCSC is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating trading in securities within the province. Learn more about the BCSC's Be Fraud Aware campaign at www.befraudaware.ca.

Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at www.InvestRight.org

SOURCE: British Columbia Securities Commission

For media inquiries, contact Richard Gilhooley, media relations, 604 899-6713. For public inquiries call 604 899 6854 or 1 800 373 6393.